Hotel Port Mahon

Opened in 1956, the Hotel Port Mahon is one of the oldest purpose-built hotels on the island, though it has the air of a property built least a century or two before. A balustrade-lined staircase leads to a claret red facade one could loosely term "colonial," with Georgian-style windows and neoclassical touches. A delicate wrought iron portico directs guests to an original carved-wood revolving door and into the lobby. Inside is similarly Old World, with swathes of marble, wood paneling, and numerous cut-glass chandeliers, unfortunately paired with touches of contemporary style and a few chain-hotel trappings that detract from the period mood. The hotel has 82 guest rooms and suites spread over just a few floors, connected via a single elevator and smart hallways that were all updated in 2017. 

To the rear, pretty gardens with tidy lawns, mature palms, and sculpted shrubbery tier down toward the pool area; from here, wide terraces provide fabulous views over Mahon harbor. The vibe is classy and adult-oriented, with a timeless vintage feel that occasionally drifts into more dated elements. Still one of the city's most unique and characterful hotels, it attracts a steady stream of middle-age couples hailing mostly from Britain, Germany, and Spain. Open year-round, it also draws plenty of hiking groups, yachters from the nearby marina, and a fair share of business guests. 

The hotel scores high on both setting and location, situated in a quiet, upmarket residential neighborhood on the east side of the Minorcan capital. As the name suggests, it also directly overlooks the waters of Mahon's harbor, with views out to King's Island. Just across the road, about three minutes on foot -- or a little farther down the street, via elevator -- is a swanky marina lined with restaurants and a quayside casino. It's a pleasant 10- to 15-minute walk into the old town, with its charming narrow streets, medieval churches, and numerous bars and restaurants. The city's main port is an easy 20-minute stroll away, while Menorca Airport is a 10-minute drive. 

Decor in the 82 guest rooms -- which include eight suites -- is a little disappointing compared to the period styling of the hotel in general. Flooring is mostly wood-effect (apart from marble in the suites), with a neutral combination of muted fabrics, generic furniture, and bare walls. Also, while suites are spacious with high ceilings, some standard rooms are very small. Most rooms open to balconies or terraces, 36 of which offer superb full-frontal views of the harbor; others have partial water views, and some just overlook the street. Suite guests are treated to spacious sea-view terraces lined with scented jasmine.

Amenities are decent enough, with 32-inch flat-screen TVs (increasing to 42-inch in suites) with several English-language channels, simple coffee- and tea-making facilities, and mini-fridges with free water on arrival. Suites add bathrobes and lounge areas with sofa beds (for an extra adult or two children). In-room key-operated safes are charged. Wi-Fi is free and generally works well throughout the hotel. Bathrooms vary from small to spacious, and some are updated while others are awaiting a refresh; newer ones have walk-in rainfall showers, while the older crop still have shower/tub combos. Hairdryers are professional quality and hotel-branded toiletries are both wall-mounted and bottled. 

Facilities feel suitable old-school at the Hotel Port Mahon -- though this means a distinctive lack of spa or health facilities. The main restaurant is an airy and attractive space with large windows, high ceilings, and vintage touches mixed with contemporary decor. Breakfast here is always included, with an extensive spread of continental and precooked items, plus chilled cava (though no live cooking). A half-board plan covers a dinner buffet, and there's an a la carte menu with mostly Italian and seafood dishes. For lunch, there's a lighter menu with pizza, salads, and pastas. All can be enjoyed on a pleasant alfresco terrace overlooking the marina, as can evening drinks from a small bar. A lobby bar opens during the cooler months, offering an excellent list of gins and occasional live piano music. A room service menu of snacks and light meals is available into the evening. 

The outdoor freeform swimming pool isn't huge, but it's large enough for a modest swim and has some sea views, plus a separate section for small children. It's surrounded by lawned sun terraces lined with umbrellas and loungers (updated in 2016); there's no noisy poolside animation, though you can hear some traffic from the road. Pool towels are available for a deposit, though could use replacing. Summer also brings the occasional live DJ playing chill-out music, plus live acts once or twice a week. There's no on-site parking, though getting a spot generally isn't a problem in the area. Wi-Fi is free throughout.